Technology | Media | Telecommunications

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

According to Nielsen Online, all four U.S. television networks enjoyed month-over-month growth in online video viewers in September -- coinciding with the season premieres of many new television shows.

NBC.com had the largest increase in video viewers, growing 312 percent month-over-month, followed by FOX Broadcasting and ABC.com, with 165 percent and 105 percent growth, respectively.

"A combination of series and season premiers, political news and parodies, and coverage of the financial crisis all contributed to increased online video viewing for the television networks in September," said Jon Gibs, vice president, media analytics, Nielsen Online.

Consumers are increasingly relying on the Web to catch up on programs they missed when it aired on broadcast TV, and the networks are beginning to capitalize on this trend.

Moreover, the television network Web properties were not the only ones to see significant growth in online video viewing in September.

The depressing global economic situation may be driving Web visitors online for a little comic relief -- total video streams increased in a variety of entertainment categories last month.

Nielsen Online today also provided overall online video usage and top brands ranked by video streams for September 2008. The overall number of unique viewers increased 6 percent month-over-month, while total streams increased ten percent.